Eskom offers retrenchment packages

ESKOM had asked its staff to consider voluntary retrenchment packages, a spokesman Andrew Etzinger confirmed yesterday. The applications, due in February, would be considered on a caseby-case basis. Eskom’s operational requirements would be considered in this process to ensure core critical and scarce skills were not lost. Asked whether the company would resort to forced retrenchments, Etzinger said: “At this stage, that option is not under consideration.” The call for voluntary retrenchment applications was in line with the state-owned power producer’s drive to reduce costs. Eskom on Tuesday released its interim financial results for the period to September, painting a bleak picture for its liquidity. Eskom’s six-month year-on-year profit was reduced to R9.3 billion, with a projected year-end profit of R500 million. – Sapa